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June 28, 2007
Apology from former leaders of ex-gay ministries
by Jesus Politics
Several former leaders of ex-gay ministries issued an apology this week. This is a hopeful sign that the conservative Christian church may in the near future move beyond its current anti-gay prejudice.
As former leaders of ex-gay ministries, we apologize to those individuals and families who believed our message that there is something inherently wrong with being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Some who heard our message were compelled to try to change an integral part of themselves, bringing harm to themselves and their families. Although we acted in good faith, we have since witnessed the isolation, shame, fear, and loss of faith that this message creates. We apologize for our part in the message of broken truth we spoke on behalf of Exodus and other organizations.
We call on other former ex-gay leaders to join the healing and reconciliation process by adding their names to this apology.
We encourage current leaders of ex-gay programs to have the courage to evaluate the fruit of their programs. We ask them to consider the long-term effects of their ministry.
From Michael Bussee's statement of apology:
Thirty years ago, I helped create EXODUS International. Today, I am here to apologize. Today, I am a licensed Marriage and Family therapist, a father, a born-again, evangelical Christian—and a proud gay man. [ ]
In the midst of all of this, my own faith in the EXODUS movement was crumbling. No one was really becoming “ex-gay.” Who were we fooling? As one current EXODUS leader admitted, we were just “Christians with homosexual tendencies who would rather not have those tendencies.” By calling ourselves “ex-gay” we were lying to ourselves and to others. We were hurting people. [ ]
Since then, I have remained one of EXODUS’s most persistent critics – not because I want to “deny hope.” On the contrary, I want to affirm that God loves every person—and that God’s love and forgiveness does indeed change lives. It has certainly changed mine. It just didn’t make me straight. I have found harmony between my sexuality and my spirituality—and I am hopeful that others can do the same.
Posted by Jesus Politics at June 28, 2007 08:34 PM
Comments
According to Jesus (not 'Jesus Politics') repentance from sin is part and parcel of the gospel message we have been commissioned to preach to the world. No Christian has "found harmony" between his sexuality and his spirituality (as Bussee claims) if his sexuality is sinful. There is no promise in the Scripture that 'God's love and forgiveness' will so 'change lives' as to make a gay person straight.
Those who are truly born again however, do have the power within to resist temptation, say "No" to sin, and live their lives in a way that pleases God.
Every Christian faces temptation, but the fact we are tempted gives us no right to conclude that the sin with which we are tempted, sometimes continuously, must not really be sin--'it must be normal for us--surely, God must have just made us that way'.
Many 'Straight' Christians are tempted over and over again in the sexual arena. Their desires for sexual activity with members of the opposite sex turn into lust, which turns into sin, even before the 'act' is committed. The fact that the desire is natural doesn't make it right. Only the marriage bed is honorable and undefiled. And the responsibility of the Christian remains clear... Resist--even "flee" those lusts (as the Scripture says) and thus avoid yielding to sin's temptation.
How ridiculous would it be for a group of 'Christians' to begin proclaiming their freedom to 'sleep around' with as many sex partners as they want just because God had not removed their desires and 'tendencies' so it therefore must be okay.
If, on the other hand, God has given us definite boundaries concerning natural sexual tendencies, and we sin by crossing those boundaries, whether or not we feel we were 'born' with the tendency to do so... How is it that a Christian can justify crossing every boundary God has set, not only for natural sexual tendencies but for that which the Bible refers to as "against nature"? How can a truly born again believer be so smug and arrogant as to embrace that which God says is abomination as if it were some kind of gift?
And why do so-called 'progressive Christians' focus on this one sin God so clearly despises and strive so hard to turn it into something righteous, normal, and good?... Why not include the other abominations? Justify all of them and heart-piercing conviction won't be a problem anymore.
The truth is, you cannot justify sin. And as long as the tendency to commit that sin is there (which may be for the rest of your natural life) your only option as a Christian is to resist it... When and if you mess up, repent, receive God's forgiveness and stay out of situations where you know you'll be tempted.
Please quit confusing the spiritually immature and Scripturally unlearned, causing them also to lose all hope for godliness in this life... Don't you know it was to those involved in your type of 'ministry' Jesus gave promise of a reward worse than if a millstone were tied about your neck and you were cast into the sea?
Posted by: Eddie Hughes at June 29, 2007 06:46 PM
Amen, Brother Eddie!!!
Posted by: Gary at June 30, 2007 04:41 PM
I greet you all in Jesus name.
We write to let you know that,we are interested of affiliating with you or to becoming one of your extension partner churches in Liberia,this has been our 5 to 6 years of praying and fasting since of belonging to an international ministry or church to which we can submit and become accountable in the kingdom of God,or we are asking to assist us by connecting us to an international ministries in order to help us train and to better serve the Lord in our areas of callings.
And again,we believe in christian business,because when we are involved with this,the church will affect the society and also its members,and will diffinitely support the work of God with their tithes and good offerings,so the church can not be a begger to those who she suppose to have witness to,but to give hope to those that are outside of the church and to bring them to the fold,this is our dream and we do hope that,this will do down well with you also,and if so,we would love where you to consider and give it your timely consideration for the furtherance of the kingdom of God.
We would love were you to please sent us your phone number, here is ours:
00231-5656930 and 5497099
Our address is:( International Disciple Training,Inc,Living Waters Fellowship Church,P. O. Box 1779,1000 Monrovia,10 Liberia,West Africa)
We want to bless God for you and that you will give this request your timely consideration as this will enable us to help undergird and promote the vision and mission of this ministry of yours in Liberia and the surrounding boaders of Liberia.
The women of this ministry also are eager to be train and be educated to also help their husbands to carry out the work of the ministry,the are in a despite need,because the war of Liberia 14 years have carried them backward.And also want to engage into home business in order to be self-substainable and to support their homes and the church as well,and to stop poverty and gain their values back again of what they have lost during the 14 years of civil war in Liberia,this also goes to the men also too and youth in the community and the church.
Hope to hearing from you.
And I want you to be informed that,I am interested of becoming one of the students and with some of my leaders/ministers of any of your great leadership and development of training,we are greatly in need of training.
We are also desirious of attending your conferences if indeed you are having one or if not we still want to benefit from you in some kind of way,so we will be looking forward to hearing from you of how we can make it there,remember that,we need your training most,because we are just from war and are destitute and lacks knowledge and you are the one who God is about to use to impact our lives and ministry.
Please salute all the brethren for us and know that we are with you in prayers and all of your endeavor.
Because of His infinite grace and love!
Hope to hear from you by the special grace of God.
Most of all,I want to be one of your by extension Ministry of your organization and that you will also help many of my pastors and ministers and that this family will be establish in Liberia as a partnership ministry to help us in the West Africa region.
Yours in Christ,
Pst. Jeremiah Nimely
Your humble servant and son in the Lord
Posted by: Pst. Jeremiah Nimely at June 30, 2007 05:30 PM
I am interested to being a part
Posted by: Pst. Jeremiah Nimely at June 30, 2007 05:32 PM
It is sad if in fact anyone reverts to the vomit he has escaped from. I know ex-gays who are now obedient to Christ. I know by their words and positions that those who formed this CAFP organization have absolutely no clue about the nature of God's creation, and that God is totally logical and functional in what he has created. There is no proof for a genetic component, but every evidence things can occur early or late. We stil must repent regardless of whether someone has introducted someone into premature or veviant sexual practices. Many people often do not, and we can in no wise compromise the word of God about heterosexual fornication, homosexuality or beastiality. Our God is a Holy God, and no blithering otherwise will EVER change that. His standards are eternal and supersede the failings of fallible human beings.
Posted by: John Tets at October 28, 2007 03:56 PM
It's simple and right at the end of your nose in Romans. Simply put , God does not know gays and has turned away from them so gay's in turn are simply kidding them selfs and purley in denial when they say they know God. God did not make ANY mistakes. You are what you are with the genitic parts you have. Simple as that. If you are gay then you have picked up the demond spirit somewhere and need to get strongly with Jesus to rid it of your life. God created male and female and thats the way He intended it to be.
Posted by: John at November 25, 2007 03:01 AM










